It’s a fishing day

Montauk Point fishing conditions · New York

Tomorrow, 5 pm–8 pmStriped bass

The bite peaks at 55. Water is 61°, close to the 62° striped bass like best. Wind builds to 25 mph out of the west by tonight at 3:00 am.

Small Craft Advisory until Monday 6 am
Log a trip here
Right now: 50 for striped bass, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 504 pm
  2. 42
  3. 27
  4. 277 pm
  5. 32
  6. 32
  7. 3210 pm
  8. 32
  9. 32Sun
  10. 291 am
  11. 29
  12. 9
  13. 124 am
  14. 12
  15. 32
  16. 327 am
  17. 32
  18. 32
  19. 3210 am
  20. 32
  21. 32
  22. 321 pm
  23. 32
  24. 47
  25. 474 pm
  26. 55
  27. 55
  28. 557 pm
  29. 47
  30. 47
  31. 3210 pm
  32. 32
  33. 32Mon
  34. 321 am
  35. 47
  36. 47
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
61°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
14 mph

From the west

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:36 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

6% chance of rain

Air
60°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are New York regulations for these waters.

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

55MarginalTomorrow, 5 pm–8 pm

Water

61°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Striped bass prefers incoming tide. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

28" minimum · 31" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 1 fish at 28" to under 31", Apr 15–Dec 15 in marine waters. Non-offset circle hooks required when fishing with bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New York

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

61°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside bluefish's active range. Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum size. 5 fish a day from shore or a private boat, 7 on for-hire vessels. Open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New York

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on bluefish

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

–Not scoredOut of season

Out of seasonOut of season here today. Check the agency before fishing.

Water

61°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Summer flounder prefers outgoing tide. Inside summer flounder's active range. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

19" minimum · 3 a day (May 4–Aug 1); 19.5" minimum · 3 a day (Aug 2–Oct 15)

Out of season here today. Check the agency before fishing. 3 fish a day: 19" minimum May 4–Aug 1, 19.5" Aug 2–Oct 15.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New York

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jul–Sep, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on summer flounder

The water

  • Water temperature61°F
  • Barometer29.70 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:36 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:26 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Major solunarTonight 9:40 pm–11:40 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:30 am–6:30 am
  • Major solunarTomorrow 10:00 am–12:00 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. New York DEC has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The eastern tip of Long Island — "the Surfcasting Capital of the World," where striped bass and bluefish blitz the rips and rocks below the lighthouse through the legendary fall run, with summer fluke on the surrounding bottom. Live tide and water temperature from the Montauk NOAA station.

NY: striped bass 28–31" slot, 1/day (inline circle hooks with bait). The fall blitz off the Point is a bucket-list surf fishery.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Ditch Plains Beach3 mi · New YorkBest now until tonight 3 am
80Worth the trip
Block Island16 mi · Rhode IslandBest tomorrow 4 pm–10 pm
88Go
Orient Beach State Park21 mi · New YorkBest now until tomorrow 6 am
80Worth the trip
Rocky Neck State Park25 mi · ConnecticutBest tomorrow 2 pm to Monday 4 am
80Worth the trip
Scarborough State Beach30 mi · Rhode IslandBest tomorrow 3 pm to Monday 4 am
88Go
Ponquogue Beach37 mi · New YorkBest now until tomorrow 6 amSmall Craft Advisory
55Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Montauk Point?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Montauk Point you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Montauk Point?

Montauk Point is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Summer Flounder. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Montauk Point?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Montauk Point against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Montauk Point have?

Montauk Point has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. NY: striped bass 28–31" slot, 1/day (inline circle hooks with bait). The fall blitz off the Point is a bucket-list surf fishery.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Montauk Point?

state agency regulations apply at Montauk Point. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Montauk Point tidal water?

Yes. Montauk Point sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.